Retail news

• Supermarkets airlifting fruit and vegetables to UK amid shortage fears

  23-12-2020 19:11
  
  Shops and suppliers take action as border issues persist despite end of French blockadeCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageSupermarkets and their suppliers are planning an unprecedented airlift of fresh fruit and vegetables into the UK next week amid fears the lifting of a French blockade will not prevent some shortages in stores.One major supermarket, which declined to be named, said it had already begun flying in produce from Spain and north Africa and another sai
  
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• Pandemic winners: a shout for sprouts

  23-12-2020 19:04
  Furloughed workers and nixed holidays have turned traditionally dull fare into green shoots of recovery
  
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• Ann Summers outlines plans for stores as creditors approve CVA

  23-12-2020 15:25 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Ann Summers CVA approved by 90% creditors
  // 25 UK stores to be switched to turnover-based rent
  // Additional funding of up to £10m is being made available to Ann SummersAnn Summers’ CVA has been approved by 90 per cent of creditors, which will see 25 of its UK stores switch to turnover-based rent.
  The CVA will not affect the landlords of its remaining 66 UK stores as terms had already been revised.
  No stores will be permanently closed. Suppliers will not be affected either, and n
  
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• Advertising watchdog bans “irresponsible” Klarna adverts

  23-12-2020 15:05 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  The Advertising Standards Authority has upheld claims made against a series of Instagram posts promoting Klarna Bank’s deferred payment services.
  The ASA on Wednesday ruled that Klarna could not show a series of adverts made with Instagram influencers that links using Klarna’s credit service with improving someone’s mood.
  While the first stages of the coronavirus pandemic hit the UK in April and May this year, Klarna engaged a number of Instagram influencers with paid advertisi
  
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• Retailers to face supply issues despite border backlog clearance

  23-12-2020 14:29 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Retailers have been warned of supply issues for fresh goods until backlog of trucks at Dover is cleared
  // The France border closure came after a new highly-infectious coronavirus variant was found in the UKThe retail sector has been warned over supply issues for some fresh goods until the backlog of trucks at Dover is cleared.
  The BRC said thousands of trucks have been stranded in Dover after France closed its borders earlier this week.
  The border closure came after a new highly-infectious c
  
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• Lufthansa flies 80 tonnes of fresh food to UK amid shortage fears

  23-12-2020 13:39
  
  German carrier delivers fruit and vegetables as border issues persist despite end of French blockadeCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageLufthansa is flying in 80 tonnes of fruit and vegetables to help restock UK supermarket shelves amid fears that the lifting of a French blockade will not prevent some shortages in stores.The German airline said it was carrying a cargo of lettuce, cauliflower, broccoli, strawberries and citrus fruits, and considering whether to put o
  
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• New Covid variant and looming Brexit disruption deepen UK economic gloom

  23-12-2020 13:00
  
  Our latest snapshot of key economic indicators show retail sales falling, job losses soaring, GDP growth and stock market stallingA perfect storm has pitched UK plc into troubled waters
  David Blanchflower: the puzzle of rising wages
  The number of new confirmed coronavirus infections has rapidly escalated across the UK in the past month, fuelled by a faster-spreading variant of the virus in the south-east of England. In response, Boris Johnson launched tougher tier 4 lockdown restrictions for muc
  
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• Tesco begins rationing items as border closures lead to stockpiling

  23-12-2020 12:25 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Tesco reinstates rationing rules after port closures result in customers panic-buying
  // CEO Jason Tarry ensured customers will have enough stock to get them through Christmas and new year
  // The ports closures took place after a new strain of coronavirus was found in the UKTesco has reintroduced rationing rules on several products, following an increase in customers stockpiling due to the ports closures.
  The grocer’s UK chief executive Jason Tarry ensured that customers will have enoug
  
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• LK Bennett to shut stores as creditors approve CVA

  23-12-2020 12:11 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // LK Bennett CVA approved by creditors
  // The womenswear retailer said the CVA will result in small number of redundancies
  // LK Bennett will shut 5 stores and switch the remaining stores to turnover-based rentLK Bennett’s CVA has been approved by its creditors, which will result in five store closures and the remaining shops switching to turnover-based rent.
  In August, LK Bennett restructured its store teams, resulting in 19 redundancies.
  Last month, LK Bennett was preparing to launch it
  
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• Morrisons to deliver commonly forgotten Christmas items up to Christmas Eve

  23-12-2020 12:03 via chargedretail.co.uk
  
  Morrisons will deliver easily-forgotten Christmas essentials such as sticky tape, batteries, gravy and even a turkey until Christmas Eve, for customers who may have missed them off their list this year.
  Teaming up with Deliveroo, the Big 4 grocer will be able to drop off the forgotten items in 30 minutes, with the scheme running until 5.30pm on Christmas Eve, and starting again from 10am on Boxing Day.
  The service will be available 182 Morrisons stores across the UK, with orders placed on the De
  
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• The Entertainer offers click-and-collect until Christmas Eve despite Tier 4 restrictions

  23-12-2020 11:55 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // The Entertainer will offer click-and-collect until midday on Christmas Eve
  // The service will also be available in Tier 4 areas
  // The toy retailer has also launched its January sales earlyThe Entertainer has ensured customers it will be offering click-and-collect until midday on Christmas Eve, including in areas under Tier 4 restrictions.
  In addition, it has also launched its January sales early.
  The toy retailer said click-and-collect will be available from all of its stores until midday o
  
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• The good old ways: can we still farm like our grandparents?

  23-12-2020 11:00
  
  Against the odds, small-scale farmers are learning new ways to survive in an age of industrial-scale competitionVideos: Dom Bush‘I can tell you a story about every cow’ Related: From tearaways to tractor kids: putting down roots on a care farm What you’re looking at here in this small-scale farm is the future. We produce more food per unit area than any big farmFarming has been pushed down the wrong path for years. I’m trying to turn the clock back on that Continue readin
  
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• N Brown completes £100m equity raising, joins AIM

  23-12-2020 10:06 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // N Brown announces completion of £100m in capital raising
  // The retail group moved over from LSE to AIM on Wednesday morningN Brown Group on Wednesday announced it had completed its £100 million equity raising and moved from the London Stock Exchange over to the Alternative Investment Market.
  The Simply Be, Jacamo and JD Williams owner said it will use the funds to remove unsecured debt and enable investment.
  The transaction was underwritten by N Brown founder David Alliance, who
  
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• Boohoo defends supply chain after investigation into working conditions at Pakistani factory

  23-12-2020 09:49 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Boohoo hit by claims of staff working below minimum wage and for 24 hour stints to meet deadlines
  // Investigation by The Guardian alleges employees work in squalid conditions with fire hazards
  // Boohoo says it “will not tolerate any instance of mistreatment or underpayment of garment workers”A new investigation into the working conditions of staff at a Pakistani factory that supplies clothes to Boohoo alleges that staff earn as little as 29p an hour, according to The Guardi
  
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• Ed Miliband calls for Hospitality and High Street Fightback Fund in the wake of Tier 4 restrictions

  23-12-2020 09:08 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Labour calls on government to support businesses forced to close under Tier 4 measures
  // Ed Miliband says “Ministers must urgently boost support for closed businesses through a Hospitality and High Street Fund to save businesses and jobs now”
  // Labour suggests government redeploys £2bn returned to them from supermarkets over business rates reliefOn Tuesday night Labour issued a call for the government to “stand up for businesses and ensure those hit by unexpected Tie
  
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• Ed Miliband calls for High Street Fightback Fund in the wake of Tier 4

  23-12-2020 09:08 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // Labour calls on government to support businesses forced to close under Tier 4 measures
  // Ed Miliband says “Ministers must urgently boost support for closed businesses through a Hospitality and High Street Fund to save businesses and jobs now”
  // Labour suggests government redeploys £2bn returned to them from supermarkets over business rates reliefOn Tuesday night Labour issued a call for the government to “stand up for businesses and ensure those hit by unexpected Tie
  
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• France eases travel ban to UK

  23-12-2020 08:46 via retailgazette.co.uk
  // French and UK government come to agreement over border closures
  // Traffic to be allowed back through from Wednesday morning, although drivers and passengers will need to test negative for coronavirus within past 72 hours
  // Agreement will be reviewed again on December 31Freight drivers and some passengers will be allowed to return to France this morning after reaching an agreement with the UK on Tuesday.
  Under the agreement detailed on the UK government’s website, people will be able t
  
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• We ordered 80 items from Ikea but it only delivered five

  23-12-2020 08:00
  
  I paid £600 for essential items and desperately need them … but it’s been impossible to make contactWe moved into a new house in mid-November, and placed a £600 order of essential items with Ikea, including a cot for my four-month-old daughter. After postponing the initial delivery date, Ikea delivered only five of the 80 items. There has been no communication. Its customer service lines are disabled and there has been no response to emails sent to its – well-hidde
  
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• McArthurGlen York welcomes two new stores ahead of Christmas

  23-12-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  McArthurGlen Designer Outlet York has expanded its retail mix with the addition of Raging Bull and Beauty Outlet stores. Founded by Phil Vickery, British menswear retailer... View Article
  
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• M&S launches on-the-spot payment solution in stores

  23-12-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  M&S has launched a new on-the-spot digital payment solution to help relieve queues at the checkouts this Christmas. Available at 200 M&S stores, the Pay with... View Article
  
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• Furniture Village to arrive in Crawley

  23-12-2020 01:00 via theretailbulletin.com
  
  Furniture Village is to open a new shop in Crawley’s County Oak retail park on Boxing Day. The move means the retailer will have 54 stores... View Article
  
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• Colin Huang, Shanghai’s secretive internet king

  23-12-2020 01:00
  Controller of $180bn Pinduoduo founded a web of ecommerce and gaming ventures in the city
  
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